Chapter 57: The Rewards from the Eldest Princess's Manor

Chapter 57: Rewards from the Grand Princess's Manor

Consort Shangguan’s brows furrowed deeply as he said in a cold voice, "Dr. Feng was a woman of integrity who would rather break than bend; she was someone who would rather lose her life than her dignity. How could her descendants be willing to become concubines for anyone?"

He paused, then added, "Forget being a concubine—he wouldn't even be fit to be the primary wife for that scoundrel. You and I both know Ruyu's temperament. When he isn't busy idling with those good-for-nothing playboys like the fourth son of the Xue family or the second son of the Jiang family, he's..."

"He's fickle and loves fun. Even at his age, he acts like a child, constantly frequenting brothels and theaters. He cannot be faithful to a lady. The young lady of the Feng family is not suitable for him."

Grand Princess Yanghe gave Consort Shangguan a long, searching look. They had been married for twenty-one years, a harmonious and loving couple who served as a model for the imperial clan in the eyes of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. This was the first time her husband had spoken so bluntly to her...

Unable to object further, she said, "The Consort is right. We shall find another way to settle the aftermath."

She then turned to Shangguan Ruyu and said, "You must also acknowledge that the Feng family has been indebted to you for two generations. For the sake of the young lady, let go and let her be. Sometimes, being too stubborn only causes harm..."

Shangguan Ruyu lowered his head. Did his desire to marry her actually mean harming her?

——

The night swallowed the last traces of twilight, leaving only a few cold stars to dot the sky.

Worried about his sister, Feng Buji stood at the entrance of the alleyway with Datou, peering into the distance.

Auntie Wang took out a heavy cotton coat and put it on him. "Don't worry, Young Master. The lady was saving a life; the Wen family won't make things difficult for her."

Feng Buji pouted and said, "Exactly. Sister was clearly saving someone, yet she's more worrying than if she were hitting someone."

The sound of approaching hoofbeats grew louder.

A carriage stopped, and Feng Chuchen stepped out.

Feng Buji led Datou forward to meet her. "Sister, why are you just getting back? I was so worried."

Feng Chuchen hurried forward, cupping Feng Buji's face in her hands. "The night wind is cold. Why are you standing in the draft?"

"Did Madam Wen blame you, Sister?"

"We'll talk when we get home."

The siblings walked home hand-in-hand, with Datou following behind, wagging his tail.

Seeing the siblings reconciled, Auntie Wang called out repeatedly with a smile, "Banxia, Shaoyao! The lady is back! Set the table!"

The group ate around the table in a relaxed atmosphere, all tacitly agreeing not to mention the incident of Feng Chuchen saving Shangguan Ruyu.

After dinner, Feng Chuchen and Feng Buji strolled through the courtyard, talking hand-in-hand.

The night breeze was cool, and the sky was as clear as if it had been washed.

Under the moonlight, the shadows of the trees swayed, and two shadows—one long and one short—moved together.

The sounds of neighbors chatting drifted in from time to time.

Feng Chuchen spoke softly about the Wen family's testing, though she kept Wen Shu's illness a secret. She told him so that Feng Buji could see the selfishness and narrow-mindedness of human nature.

She had clearly saved the Wen family's future son-in-law, had previously saved their grandson, and treated their eldest daughter-in-law. Yet, they judged her with a petty heart. If she truly had ill intentions, the Wen family would surely have found a way to deal with her.

However, she still intended to try her best to treat Wen Shu. Not only because she had promised the Wen family, but also because she knew Wen Shu's secret; if she couldn't cure him, it would be difficult for her to escape the situation.

Once this matter was settled, she would stay far away from them.

Feng Buji stopped walking, looked up at his sister, and said, "Sister, you need to use your head more in the future. Look, you only wanted to save a life, but it caused so much trouble."

His eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky, yet they held a depth that made him seem like a little adult.

Feng Chuchen's heart softened like falling moonlight. This little person was so worried about her and already understood so much.

She said sincerely, "I'll listen to my brother and use my head more."

Feng Buji nodded with satisfaction. "Auntie Wang said that unless a woman is truly at a dead end, it's better to marry. Don't be discouraged, Sister. In a couple of years when it's time for matchmaking, you'll find a good family."

"Mhm, I think so too."

Feng Chuchen agreed readily, thinking that perhaps the next two years would be a bit quieter.

The next morning, Feng Chuchen and the others rose early. After breakfast, Uncle Li arrived with his ox cart to pick them up.

Uncle Li lived in the previous alley and earned his living driving carts.

They needed to move eight potted plants back to the old ancestral home today, so Auntie Wang had gone out the previous night to hire this slightly larger ox cart.

Uncle Li was in his thirties, and the look in his eyes when he saw Feng Chuchen was hard to hide.

As a driver, he was well-informed; he had likely heard about the incident.

Feng Chuchen felt annoyed, but she pretended not to notice.

The entrance to the old house was as bustling as ever.

Feng Chuchen greeted everyone and went straight home, while Feng Buji stopped to chat with the craftsmen.

He even gave each craftsman two pieces of pastry. "These are from Baohe Pavilion; they are very sweet."

The craftsmen thanked him with smiles, but they didn't eat them immediately, choosing instead to take them home for their parents or children.

After placing the potted plants in the courtyard, they planted a sweet osmanthus sapling and several plum saplings. Two pots of primroses were in full bloom, instantly turning the bare courtyard into a colorful space.

Feng Chuchen thought that her eldest aunt would surely love this change.

She sent Auntie Wang to Village Head Zhao's house to deliver a bag of pastries and mention that she wished to purchase the two acres of land surrounding the courtyard.

When she had money in the future, she wanted to expand the courtyard.

This would always be the home for her, her parents, and her eldest aunt; it had to be built well.

Hearing that Feng Chuchen wanted to expand the courtyard, Village Head Zhao was very happy and gave his promise repeatedly.

The night was as dark as ink, and White Horse Village was silent.

Suddenly, a loud, rhythmic pounding erupted at the Feng family's gate, and Datou began barking loudly.

Datou was large, and his bark was coarse and startling.

The villagers didn't need to guess; they knew someone's wife was in labor and had called for Midwife Wang.

Auntie Wang ran out and asked through the gate, "Who is it?"

A man's voice came from outside, "Auntie Wang, it's Liu Ergou from Xiaowa Village, Guo Dani's neighbor. My wife has been in labor since yesterday morning and still can't deliver. She looks like she's dying. Please come help!"

"Oh, wait a moment."

Auntie Wang shouted loudly, "Shaoyao, get up! Come with me to deliver the baby!"

Shaoyao was from the same village as Liu Ergou and knew him well; she scrambled up immediately.

Since it was the middle of the night and they had to travel mountain paths, they took Datou along.

Banxia woke up and was told to bolt the gate once they had left.

The next morning, Feng Chuchen was in the small room grinding medicinal herbs.

She had prepared a prescription for Grandma Hu to regulate her endocrine system, along with additional medicine to eliminate pigmentation and whiten her skin.

She ground the herbs into a fine powder so that no one could discern the ingredients.

At the beginning of noon, there was a knock at the gate.

Feng Buji ran out to open it.

Upon opening the door, he first bowed and then shouted at the top of his lungs, "Sister! Lord Guo from the Grand Princess Yanghe's manor is here!"

Lord Guo was an official and steward of the Grand Princess's manor. He had previously come to the house to pay respects to Midwife Feng, so the Feng family knew him.

Lord Guo entered, accompanied by an eunuch holding a horsetail whisk. They did not enter the house but stood in the courtyard.

Feng Chuchen met them at the door, curtsied, and smiled. "Lord Guo."

Lord Guo cupped his hands and smiled. "Thank you, Miss Feng, for saving my young master." He pointed to the eunuch beside him and said, "This is Eunuch Li, who serves by the side of Her Highness, the Grand Princess."

Feng Chuchen curtsied again. "Eunuch Li."

Eunuch Li stepped forward and announced loudly, "An imperial decree from Her Highness, Grand Princess Yanghe!"

Feng Chuchen, her brother, and Banxia quickly knelt.

Eunuch Li recited, "Miss Feng possesses exquisite medical skills and a kind heart, truly worthy of being the successor to the Mother of a Thousand Infants. When my mistress's son was in peril, she acted promptly to save him, a deed my mistress holds dear in her heart.

"As a reward, she grants you various silks and jewelry. It is hoped that you will carry on the legacy of Dr. Feng, performing many acts of kindness and saving lives. May you continue your efforts, and may your whole family find prosperity."

Feng Chuchen and Feng Buxiao said in unison, "We thank Her Highness, the Grand Princess."

Feng Buji's voice was even louder than his sister's.

He was thrilled. To be recognized by the Grand Princess and receive such commendation and wealth meant his sister wouldn't have to wait years to marry into a good family.

Feng Chuchen was also happy; this would help mitigate the negative rumors.

Several elderly maids entered carrying eight bolts of silk and four brocade boxes. Feng Chuchen led them to the east room and placed them on the heated kang bed.

Feng Buji invited Lord Guo and Eunuch Li to sit in the main room.

Lord Guo and Eunuch Li sat on opposite sides of the eight-immortals table, while the siblings sat on chairs to the left and right.

After serving tea, Banxia withdrew and invited the maids who carried the rewards to rest and drink tea in the side room.

Lord Guo smiled and said, "When the Grand Princess and the Consort heard of the incident involving the Second Young Master, they were truly startled. Fortunately, Miss Feng was there, allowing our Second Young Master to escape danger unscathed."

Feng Chuchen said, "That was a method I happened to research. For someone whose airway is blocked and cannot breathe, patting the back is not very effective. The best way to rescue them is to wrap your arms around the patient, place your fist just above the navel,

"Create a closed encirclement, and strike the upper abdomen forcefully. The lower part of the lungs is compressed, and the impact on the abdomen creates upward pressure, which drives the remaining air in the lungs upward in a gust. This impactful, directional gust of air rushes straight into the airway,

"And can force the obstructing food chunk out. Of course, one can also perform the rescue while the patient is lying down, but the success rate for a lying patient is much lower than for one who is standing and leaning forward. To maximize the chance of success, I had to have Young Master Shangguan stand and lean forward."

The ancients called the trachea the "breathway" or "airway."

She gestured as she spoke, explaining the principle of the Heimlich maneuver clearly.

She wanted them to know, so that if word spread, it would be accurate.

Lord Guo and Eunuch Li understood it somewhat vaguely, but they grasped one point.

This posture created a closed encirclement to generate internal air pressure, making it easier to force the foreign object out through internal and external force. This was unlike what some had said—that Miss Feng used such an undignified movement to save the young master just to cling to him.

Lord Guo smiled. "Miss Feng is truly talented to have come up with such an excellent method."

Eunuch Li chuckled, "Oh my, Miss Feng is quite remarkable for such a young age. Her Highness and the Consort have asked me to convey that if Miss Feng has any needs, she should not hesitate to ask."

Feng Chuchen replied, "Young Master Shangguan has already given me a generous medical fee, and today Her Highness has bestowed so many gifts. It is already quite a lot; I ask for nothing more."

The expressions of Lord Guo and Eunuc Li both relaxed.

Had Miss Feng suggested that she found it difficult to marry and wished to use this favor to demand something, they would have had to spend a lot of effort to appease her.

Eunuch Li said, "Her Highness also said that in the future, she invites Miss Feng and Young Master Feng to come and chat with her whenever you are free."

Feng Chuchen was grateful for the Grand Princess's benevolence toward her people.

She knew such polite words were just formalities.

Lord Guo added, "The Consort has asked me to inquire whether Miss Feng would be willing to teach this life-saving method to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to save more people. If you are willing, an official from the Academy will come to seek your guidance. If not, please disregard my words."

Feng Chuchen had already explained the principle and method to them; how could she be unwilling to share it with the Imperial Academy?

This idea from Consort Shangguan would not only save more lives but also maximize the restoration of her reputation.

Feng Chuchen had already heard of Consort Shangguan; his name was Shangguan Yunqi, and he held the title of Marquis of Wei'an. It was said he was handsome and accomplished in both civil and military arts, living in harmony with Grand Princess Yanghe, and was highly esteemed by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

The Shangguan family had been an aristocratic clan in the previous dynasty, with ancestors who helped the founding emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty establish the empire. The Shangguan family was also known for producing beauties; a consort had emerged in the previous dynasty, and now a consort had emerged in this one.

Shangguan Yunqi, Shangguan Ruyu—even their names were beautiful.

Feng Chuchen said, "I am willing. The greatest wish of a physician is to possess great compassion and to save all living beings from suffering."

A flash of admiration crossed Lord Guo's eyes as he cupped his hands. "Miss Feng possesses the same benevolent heart as Dr. Feng; you are a model for the medical profession." He added, "The Imperial Academy will not take the formula for free; they will provide a certain reward."

The two men rose to take their leave.

The siblings saw them out and noticed many villagers standing nearby, watching the commotion.

The loud voices in the courtyard had been overheard by the craftsmen building the memorial archway. They couldn't hear exactly what was said, but they knew the Princess had issued an imperial decree and saw many fine goods being carried in, so the news spread quickly.

As the carriages drove away, Landlord Zhao, Village Head Zhao, and a group of villagers ran forward.

"Chen girl, Buji boy, were those people from the Princess's manor?"

"Did an eunuch even come to read an imperial decree?"

"Midwife Feng has been dead for so long, and they are still rewarding her?"

Feng Buji said, "They were from the Grand Princess Yanghe's manor. My sister accidentally saved the Grand Princess's son. The Grand Princess praised my sister and gave her some gifts."

The villagers' jaws dropped; Feng Chuchen had actually made something of herself.

"Heavens, the Grand Princess! She is a person from the heavens!"

"Chen girl is lucky to have caught the Grand Princess's eye."

"The Feng family's ancestral graves must be smoking with good fortune!"

"One good thing after another..."

...

Someone else asked, "What illness did the Grand Princess's son have?"

Feng Buji said vaguely, "He choked on a large jujube, and my sister hit his stomach to knock it out."

The details of the incident hadn't reached the village yet, so he didn't want to be too specific.

Landlord Zhao's eyes turned red with envy. If he could marry Feng Chuchen into his family, his own house could establish a connection with the Grand Princess's manor and ascend to greatness in a single step.

His third son was short-sighted; he had pushed such a good girl away. He would have to teach him a lesson when he got home...

Ignoring the villagers' desire to see the goods, the siblings did not invite them inside. They exchanged a few polite words at the gate before everyone dispersed.

Returning to the east room, seeing the pile of silks and the four brocade boxes, Feng Buji grinned from ear to ear.

"Sister's dowry just got even richer!"

Feng Chuchen found it amusing; the little person's greatest ideal was to marry her into a good family and provide her with a massive dowry.

At the very top was a gift list, which read: four bolts of patterned silk, four bolts of spring gauze, two strings of cinnabar and fragrant beads, one inlaid precious stone red-gold lotus hairpin, and one gold-inlaid jade hairpin.

The eight bolts of silk were radiant and magnificent, several grades higher than the fabrics sent by the Wen residence. Even Feng Chuchen, who had seen the world, liked them immensely.